I meant it reinforces a yearlong problem. Will be interesting to watch if we can out skill as many teams next year.
Illinois 38, Michigan State 16 Postgame
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Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Did anyone else fell like Luke was just a little bit late on a few of his throws? Especially when rolling out to the right? It all worked out, obviously, it just felt a little off today.
While he hit a couple and had a good game, it seems like (lately) once he rolls out or scrambles, he has a hard time finding anyone. It might be on the receivers, but he seems slightly off since the Oregon game. That said, this should build some confidence, and hopefully, we can pull it all together in New Jersey and get a win.
I think you are thinking of the Kansas sports board. Oh, wait, they were predicting Illinois wouldn’t win more than 3 games.
Well, actually everything's about the same
or maybe not. That was a good win to help break the November Swoon habit.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
forgot to say that McCray's comeback story is awesome. it's been a long road: really happy for him
Don't get me wrong I really like Luke as our QB, but my one knock on him is that he holds on to the ball to long.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Someone? Try "nearly everyone." What makes 7-3 so wonderful is that, given our talent and depth, anywhere north of 0.500 seemed unreasonable to project. We got lucky in that we've avoided OSU and IU, but I still marvel that the Penn State game was completely ours to lose.
Two of our three losses are to the #1 and #4 teams in the nation. On the road. Seems to me 7-3 is completely a coaching and team cohesion story. That makes it even better. Now let's make it 9-3, own Wrigley and Chicago's Big Ten Team in a big way, and play somewhere warm on New Year's Day.
I'll be in the stands in NJ on Saturday raising Illini hell.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
One thought I had throughout the game was, “How many times have Illini in Michigan State’s shoes the past 30 years?” They have some talent at the skill position and QB but as a team they’re raw and undisciplined. On offense alone they missed several easy completions or had stupid, drive-killing penalties when otherwise they moved the ball pretty well against our defense. It goes to show how the standards have been raised for Illini football when the scoreboard shows an easy Illini win but you can still nitpick about certain aspects of the team’s performance.
Few different stats involving yesterday's game:
-First time Illini have won 6 home games in a season since 2001
-Illini are now 2-8 since 1995 against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium with the only other win in Champaign in that time coming in 2016
-This is the first time that Illinois has beaten Michigan and Michigan State in the same season since 1983. It is the first time they've ever beaten both in Champaign in the same season.
-First time Illini have won 6 home games in a season since 2001
-Illini are now 2-8 since 1995 against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium with the only other win in Champaign in that time coming in 2016
-This is the first time that Illinois has beaten Michigan and Michigan State in the same season since 1983. It is the first time they've ever beaten both in Champaign in the same season.
To your point, Luke had Laughery open for a quick hit TD on Laughery's quick flare into the flat (the play before Franklin's amazing back-shoulder TD catch). Luke was rolling that way but held onto the ball too long and the DB caught up and covered off on Laughery to close that down.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Nice. A little more recognition for my boys from 1983. TY!!!
Glad to see Gentle Hunt and 4 inside LB’s playing well. Didn’t see that coming.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Looked more to me like this was Luke’s other issue, which is staring down his primary receiver.
I know we’ve run that same play before, sometimes successfully and sometimes not (AL drop), but it seemed that AL was the decoy this time and the play drawn was to throw to the middle. I don’t think Luke ever looked at AL there.
My interpretation anyway.
I know we’ve run that same play before, sometimes successfully and sometimes not (AL drop), but it seemed that AL was the decoy this time and the play drawn was to throw to the middle. I don’t think Luke ever looked at AL there.
My interpretation anyway.
I 100% fall on this side of the argument too. It’s exactly how I described it to my wife at the game yesterday. It wasn’t that he “didn’t see him” or “held onto the ball too long”, it’s that he clearly wasn’t the #1 look. And by the time Luke decided to move on, AL was covered.
Had AL been the primary receiver on that play, it would have been a TD.
This isn’t to say that Altmyer isn’t the issue still (in a sea of amazing non-issues!) but I think the issue needs to be diagnosed correctly.
Ryan Meed looked good and had a couple big plays. Surprised not to see Seth Coleman not ranked.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
He seems to be a pretty sure tackler.
Part of that comes from the Smith era where we tended to just watch punts bounce and roll dead.
-We had won 2 of 10 final home games leading into this one.
A strong finish will help Coach B recruit in the portal. Should have Altmeyer back, likely in market for proven WR. Probably need transfers for both o and d line.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
I'm not part of theSomeone? Try "nearly everyone." What makes 7-3 so wonderful is that, given our talent and depth, anywhere north of 0.500 seemed unreasonable to project. We got lucky in that we've avoided OSU and IU, but I still marvel that the Penn State game was completely ours to lose.
Two of our three losses are to the #1 and #4 teams in the nation. On the road. Seems to me 7-3 is completely a coaching and team cohesion story. That makes it even better. Now let's make it 9-3, own Wrigley and Chicago's Big Ten Team in a big way, and play somewhere warm on New Year's Day.
I'll be in the stands in NJ on Saturday raising Illini hell.
" nearly everyone " crowd as there are so many variables to consider to get me to predict season results BEFORE the season starts.......
I like other posters idea's of what COULD happen but it's still a guess and we all know where it takes you when you guess on sports......
7-3 with a chance for 3 more victories is A-OK
with me.....it really really is.....
If you're talking before the season started, then yes... "nearly everyone."
But if you're talking within the last few weeks... there's been some doom and gloom for sure, but I don't recall anyone claiming we'll finish the season 0-5.
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